I was wondering how UK treats its abandoned/homeless animals. In America we have 100s if not 1000s of independent animals shelters where the great majority of animals received are killed. But there is a movement to change this, what is know as NO KILL status where 90% or more of healthy animals are saved. There are more than 200 communities that have reached this magic plateau and a push for more. I live in Coastal East Florida in Brevard County where community rescue groups, activists, volunteers and animal friends are trying to move our county to NO KILL. Unfortunately we are meeting a lot of resistance both organization {animal services} and political {saving money more important than saving lives}. But there has been progress and one reason why is the sad story of Herbie the Cat who was an example of the inept and uncaring system that is in place at Brevard County Animal Services http://www.brevardcounty.us/AnimalServices. I was the unfortunate person who experienced this tragic tale having attempted to adopt Herbie only to find out he was euthanized 2 1/2 hours before I could save him. This made it a personal issue for me and being a webmaster I created a website to help community rescue groups in their fight to save animals in our county. The website is Brevard County Advocacy for Animals http://www.melfla.com/.

If you have a spare moment I would appreciate your help in our efforts to save animals. If you would contact one or more of those who have the power to make changes please do so. You can send one e-mail by using the select all box. That page is http://www.melfla.com/e-maillist.html

_________________"With every decision, think seven generations ahead of the consequences of your actions" Ute rule of life.“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”― Chief Seattle“Those Who Have the Privilege to Know Have the Duty to Act”…Albert Einstein

Thank you for your email and for your suggestions after the miscommunication involved with Herbie and our shelter. We do take this very seriously. Herbie was never available for adoption. He came in as an owner surrender/confiscation on 11/6/13. He was fearful in the cage. Day after day an evaluation of him was attempted, but it was never completed due to his temperament. An email specifically to qualified rescue groups was sent out on 11/13/13.

Animals with special needs or questionable temperament are only available to rescue groups. If an animal is aggressive we can’t place a citizen or the county at risk by adopting those animals directly, but we attempt to give the animal a chance by contacting rescue partners to see if they are interested. Rescue groups are experienced animal groups that can work with the animal and rehab them if they feel there is potential to save the animal. They, too, are challenged by space demands. There was no response from any rescue group for Herbie.

Our rescue coordinator worked Saturday 11/16/13. The person who tells the story called her after hours on Saturday 11/16/13 and left a message. Although the shelter was open, as usual, to the public on Sunday and Monday, she was off those two days and didn’t listen to the message until she came back to work on Tuesday, 11/19/13. Had she listened to the message she could have called and explained that Herbie wasn’t adoptable and saved that person much grief.

So that callers will know that a staff member they may be attempting to reach is unavailable in the future, they have been instructed to leave detailed recordings on their phones requesting callers contact the shelter for assistance.